Again: A Word About Second Chances and Cycles in Language

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There’s a song by Lenny Kravitz called “Again.” But what struck me most was not the melody — it was the word itself.

More Than “Once More”

The English word again looks simple. Just “once more,” right? But behind it lies a whole world of meanings.

在 乌克兰, знов is neutral. In 俄罗斯, снова sounds calm, while опять can carry annoyance. 德国 又 is strict, almost mechanical. 西班牙语 otra vez feels casual, as if life naturally repeats itself.

But English again is different. It holds a quiet hope. It doesn’t just mark a repeat — it whispers about a return, a cycle, a chance to live something one more time.

The Human Side of “Again”

Think of how we use it:

• We’re together again. — not a copy of the past, but a reunion filled with history.
• I don’t want to go through this again. — pain, dread, the fear of repetition.
• I’ll try again. — resilience, courage, the refusal to give up.

One word carries both comfort and exhaustion, both love and loss.

Cycles, Not Copies

When Lenny Kravitz sings 再一次, it is not “once more.” It is not a photocopy of the past. It is a longing for another chance — not to repeat, but to transform.

That is the secret of again: every cycle is different. Life does not hand us replicas. Every return brings change.

What “Again” Teaches Language Learners

As a teacher, I see this word as the essence of learning. Students repeat vocabulary again and again. But each time is not the same. Each cycle brings depth: a clearer sound, a stronger memory, a new connection.

Learning a language is not about linear progress. It is about circles that spiral upward. And every again is part of that spiral.

If you want to explore more about how languages shape meaning, see also:

• 无法翻译的情感兰尼-克拉维茨教给我们的语言与爱
• Beyond “My House, My Family”: Why Real Growth in Language Learning Comes from Hard Questions

结论

For me, again is not just repetition. It is a code of human life. A reminder that we always have another chance — to try, to love, to grow.

And that’s why this “simple” word is never simple.

✍️ Tymur Levitin 的作者专栏 — founder, director and lead teacher of 列维廷语言学校 / 启动语言学校，作者 Tymur Levitin

🌍 Global Learning. Personal Approach.
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